House Passes Bill Banning Practice Of Shark Finning

House Bill 852, which has passed in the Texas House, places tighter restrictions on the controversial fishing practice called shark finning.

Rep. Eddie Lucio, D-Harlingen, who authored the bill, said that over 73 million sharks are killed every year because of shark finning, a practice where fisherman cut off the fins of a shark and leave the amputated fish to die in the ocean.

"I am of the belief - and I am an avid fisherman - that we need to have a healthy ecosystem. You can sell the whole carcass - including the sharks - to processors and dealers. What we are trying to prohibit is the same public policy very similar to hunting elephants where we don’t create a market for ivory," Lucio said.